<p>haha! i still consider hazing eating salt.</p>
<p>That kind of hazing is no longer allowed at West Point. What the cadets call "hazing" today, in no way resembles the "hazing" that went on years ago.</p>
<p>Hazing is the most pointless thing that goes on at the academy. And I've learned there is a lot of pointless crap here. In fact, West Point is nothing like the real Army. Anyway, back to hazing. You'll find that the guys who don't haze are a lot more respected by underclassmen. Whereas, upperclassmen who haze are just despised by their subordinates. It's not effective leadership.
I'm not sure if that salt shaker incident really occured, but I know for a fact there have been some upperclassmen who crossed the line since I've been here. Fortunately, that line isn't crossed often, and those who did were punished for it. Overall, the hazing is just a mind game, which seems to be very effective on most plebes.</p>
<p>As I said before, "hazing" isn't what it used to be. In fact, what happens at West Point today isn't even hazing. Talk to "old grads". They'll tell you what "hazing" is.</p>
<p>I'm a plebe at USMA now. There really isn't much hazing, and the little there is is nowhere near what it used to be. I came here thinking it would be terrible, but it really wasn't at all. Most times you get in trouble becasue you deserve it or something is set up for you to fail. The Academy recognizes that hazing isn't good for developing leaders. Read "The Long Gray Line" to see what hazing used to be. It's a totally different place now.</p>
<p>One of my son's teachers, an officer, tells his class that the current academy is too easy on the cadets. Back in the day they used to hang swabs out the windows of Chase Hall by their feet! Fortunately things have improved on this front.</p>
<p>Back in the day... The outside world knew nothing about what went on inside our academies. It was far far worse I'm told. Eyes are out there watching these days and it is unacceptable. I agree, hazing is NOT in the same category as getting punished. Hazing is more as Boss described it. Wonder how many they dropped out of those windows? ;) I could, but won't tell you about some of the hazing traditions here in the south at a certain place. Its pretty rough and glad my kid is safe where he is!</p>